New Hampshire Psychological Association

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Board of Directors July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020

President:
Past President:
President Elect:
Secretary:
Treasurer:

Cynthia Whitaker, Psy.D., MLADC
Celia Oliver, Ph.D., Psy.D.
Jes Leonard, Ph.D.
Sue Kim, Ph.D.
Cerissa Desrosiers, Psy.D.

President, Cynthia Whitaker, Psy.D. MLADC
I was the only psychologist within my work setting for many years. Being part of the NHPA Ethics Committee and now the Board of NHPA has given me the opportunity to continue to be challenged and grow as a psychologist. I appreciate all that others have shared with me as a member of NHPA.

Years on Board: 3
Practice Location: Chief of Services, Greater Nashua Mental Health Center (GNMHC); adjunct faculty member at Rivier University.
Professional Interest Areas: Working with individuals who are Deaf or Hard-Of-Hearing, Community Psychology, Wholistic Treatment, Treatment Courts, Public Health, Consultation, and Teaching
Committee Work: Ethics Committee since 2014
Email: whitakerc@gnmhc.org

President Elect & NHPA Liaison To The Board of Psychologists: Jes Leonard, Ph.D.

I am a strong proponent of collegiality and professional relationships as well as a promoter of high quality and ethical treatment to our clients. I appreciate NHPA's long-standing tradition in both of these areas; therefore I joined to assist in promoting NHPA's mission for our current providers and their clients.

Years on board: 2
Practice Location: The Counseling Center of New England, offices in Londonderry and Exeter, NH.
Professional Interest Areas: I work with adults providing both individual and group therapy. I am trained as a generalist, but specialize in trauma work, specifically in the area of sexual trauma. I am trained in ACT, CBT, CPT, PE, IFS, and DBT skills.
Committee Work: Continuing Education, ECP committee
Email: jes@theleonardgroup.net

Past President & Ethics Committee Chair: Celia Oliver, Ph.D., Psy.D.
Psychology is a fascinating career, yet private practice can be isolating. Being the Ethics Chair and thereby a member of the NHPA Board gives me the opportunity to interact with dynamic colleagues and do my part to support and promote this intriguing profession.

Years on board: 12
Practice Location: Retired from Private Practice in Peterborough, NH
Professional Interest Areas: Cognitive-behavioral therapy, specializing in the treatment of anxiety and autism spectrum disorders in children, teens, and adults; ethics in clinical practice
Committee Work: Chair of the Ethics Committee (on committee since 2005)
Email: celialifestrands@gmail.com

Secretary & Membership Committee Chair: Sue H. Kim, Ph.D.
It's fun and fulfilling to be connected with other energetic and caring psychologists, all working to enhance the welfare of our profession and improve services to clients in NH.

Years on board: 4
Practice Location: Private Practice Wilton, NH
Professional Interest Areas: Individual and family therapy for children, adolescents, and adults; treating depression, anxiety, trauma, identity issues.
Committee Work: Executive committee, Continuing Education, Membership
Tel: 603.654.2181

Treasurer: Cerissa Desrosiers, Psy.D.

I am deeply grateful for the privilege that my upbringing and education have afforded me, and community service is a value that I hold dear. I choose to participate in NHPA governance as a way to invest my time and energy into supporting and connecting with psychologists and mental health practitioners in an effort to team- up to secure additional high-quality therapeutic resources for families.

Years on board: 3
Practice Location: Partial Hospitalization Program and Intensive Outpatient Program for Adolescents - Seabrook, NH
Professional Interest Areas: Adolescent and emerging adult diagnostic clarification, crisis stabilization, and short-term treatment.
Committee Work: Ethics committee
Email: cerissa@endurancebehavioralhealth.com

Member-At-Large 2018-2020 & Interim Continuing Educations Committee Chair: Jacquelyn Reinert, Psy.D.

I first served on the board as student liaison while completing my doctoral studies, later transitioning to a staff position fulfilling the role of Continuing Education Coordinator. In addition to these roles, I have also served on several committees, including the Continuing Education Committee, the Early Career Psychologist Committee, and the Awards and Nominations Committee. I've essentially "grown-up" within the NHPA community and feel that volunteering provided a solid foundation to l launch my career. I look forward to continuing to cultivate professional and personal relationships within the state and feel honored to be surrounded by such a talented and dedicated group of psychologists.

Years on board: 4
Practice Location: Private practice in Harvard, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire; adjunct faculty member, Rivier University in Nashua, NH
Professional Interest Areas: Assessment for children, adolescents, and transitional-aged adults, particularly individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, gender dysphoria, anxiety, depression, and complex learning challenges, as well as individual, group and family therapy. I also provide consultation to schools and other professionals in New England.
Committee Work: Continuing Education, Early Career Psychologist, Awards and Nominations
Email: dr.jackireinert@gmail.com

Member-At-Large 2019-2021: Brittany St. Jean, Psy.D.
One of my favorite things about being a psychologist is having the opportunity to connect with others who share the common goal of providing quality psychological care and advocating for the individuals we serve. I joined the board to be apart of something greater than myself, and to be an agent of change. I’m deeply committed to strengthening New Hampshire communities and improving access to mental health care across the state, which aligns with NHPA’s value of practicing psychology to promote human welfare. It’s an honor to be part of the NHPA’s dedicated group of psychologists working together to better our profession and our state.

Years on board: First year
Practice Location: Currently practicing across the Merrimack School District and southern NH region; adjunct faculty member at Rivier University
Professional Interest Areas: Consultation, psychological assessment for children and adolescents, trauma-informed care (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and school psychology
Committee Work: Behavioral Healthcare Advocacy Committee (BHAC) Member
Email: contact@brittanystjean.com

APA Council Representative 2019-2021 & HR Committee Chair: Sheila H. Gardner, Ph.D.
I have been actively engaged in NHPA for a variety of reasons over the past decade but ultimately, I remain involved because of an essential wish for and valuing of professional collaboration/relationship and productivity/growth. Working alongside colleagues to support each other, to grow our profession, and to learn has been a remarkable gift.

Years on board: 12
Practice Location: Private practice Durham, NH
Professional Interest Areas: Individual therapy for adults, mind-body connections in circumstances of health and illness, psychological health in the workplace, advocacy/public education/professional growth
Committee Work: Current: Human Resources Chair Past: Membership, Legislative, Liaison to Board of Psychologists, Ad Hoc Committee on Rules Revisions for the Board of Psychologists, Behavioral Healthcare Advocacy, Psychologically Healthy Workplace, Nominations & Awards, Ad Hoc Committee on Board of Mental Health Practice Rules Revisions, Ad Hoc Committee for an Independent Board of Psychologists
Email: DrSGardner@gmail.com

Behavioral Healthcare Advocacy Committee Chair: Julie Wolter, Psy.D.

I enjoy advocating for the future of psychologists in a fast-changing healthcare system. As systems change and research advances, we must continue to prioritize the importance of the therapeutic relationship in healing. It’s an honor to be a part of a dedicated group of psychologists who care about both the health of the profession and the health of the New Hampshire community.

Years on board: 2
Email: jwolterpsyd@gmail.com - NHPA.BHAC2018@gmail.com

Legislative Committee Chair: Shannon Bader, Ph.D.

I came to NHPA because I believe that small groups can make big changes, especially in a state like New Hampshire. In my work, I see the effects of public policy, health care, poor understanding of mental health, and scarce funding result in bad outcomes. I am bolstered by the efforts of groups like NHPA to counteract these forces and positively impact individuals with mental illness.

Years on board: 3
Practice Location: Chief Forensic Evaluator Concord, NH
Professional Interest Areas: Forensic evaluations, inpatient violence reduction, sex offender treatment, and ethics in forensic practice
Committee Work: Chair Legislative committee

NHPASO Student Liaison: Erica Lemoyne
Serving as a member of the board allows me to be a voice for all early student learners in the field. I chose to become part of NHPA, as a current doctoral student at Rivier University. I believe advocacy is valuable to enhance future students in the field. Networking and collaborating with a roundtable of experienced and professional minds allows me to keep early students informed about state and related learning opportunities in the growing field while supporting specific student needs. I believe actively participating, engaging and understanding everyone’s unique culture will bring voice to enhance future change. It is an honor and privilege to be a part of NHPA and be a voice for future learners.

Years on board: 2
Practice Location: Spidaliere Psychological Associates/Private Practice, Nashua, New Hampshire
Professional Interest Areas: Individual therapy; Child/adolescent and families ranging from anxiety, ADHD, depression, executive functioning, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships.
Email: eplacen99@yahoo.com

Professional Affairs Committee Chair: John Cabibi, Ph.D.

Public Relations Committee Chair: Kathryn H. Robbins, Ph.D.
I love working with and learning from my wonderful NHPA Board colleagues around the state as we all strive to represent our field optimally in NH and address a variety of issues. My public education outreach hat offers opportunities to engage with communities in a meaningful, broadening, and fun way and connect with my other Public Education Campaign (PEC) counterparts from across the US and Canada.

Years on board: 6
Practice location: Private practice Hanover, NH (and on-site schools/medical practice-based services)
Professional Interest Areas: Consultation, assessment, and treatment services for children/youth (ages 3-18) and their families; school psychology and integrated pediatric health; medical family psychology for health/chronic illness issues in children and families
Committee Work: Public Relations Committee, Public Education Campaign Coordinator
Email: drkrobbins@uvchildfamilypsych.com

ABOUT US

The New Hampshire Psychological Association is a 501c6 non profit organization. Our mission is to advance the field of psychology as a science, as a profession, and as a means of promoting human welfare.

CONTACT

NHPA PO Box 1492 Dover, NH 03821
Phone: 603-415-0451
Email: office@nhpsychology.org